Devour! Chefs in the Spotlight: JEFF VAN GEEST

Guests at Devour! Osoyoos have the very good fortune to be able to taste the cuisine of Canada’s best kitchens in one of the country’s most stunning locales.

This year once again promises an incredible lineup of participating chefs. Devour! Osoyoos is so proud to showcase the talents of these industry leaders.

So much personality goes into the dishes every chef creates. What influenced the Devour! chefs to pursue their culinary passions, and what inspired their unique cooking styles? We were curious, and think Devour! festival guests might be, too. So we asked them!

In the spotlight this week, we’d like to introduce Miradoro’s Chef Jeff Van Geest.

Chef Jeff Van Geest is one of British Columbia’s most celebrated chefs, focusing on locally procured foods from sustainable producer partners.

Jeff was born in St. Catharines, the heart of the Niagara region. His grandparents were farmers who taught him to respect what farm-fresh, local food.

After training for a culinary career at Vancouver Community College, Jeff landed an apprenticeship at Bishop’s restaurant in Vancouver – one of the earliest pioneers in sustainable cuisine. He worked his way through the ranks to Sous Chef before leaving to start his own restaurant: the Aurora Bistro. Highlighting field-to-table cuisine and honouring the farmer/chef relationship earned Jeff a stellar reputation in Vancouver and beyond, and eventually led to the position of Executive Sous Chef at Vancouver’s Diva at the Met. In 2010, Jeff was able to fulfill his dream of returning to his rural, agricultural roots,when he became Executive Chef of Miradoro at Tinhorn Creek.

Jeff’s commitment to sustainable, locally-sourced ingredients is evident in all aspects of his professional life: working with Okanagan growers, farmers, and foragers, tending the Miradoro kitchen gardens, and being a part of the Vancouver Aquarium’s Oceanwise program. His passion for BC food and wine makes him a perfect fit in the Okanagan Valley, and in 2014, Chef Jeff was inducted into the BC Restaurant Hall of Fame.

Chef Jeff will be showcasing his talents at several events throughout the Devour! Festival, don’t miss it!

Tickets and special package rates for the Devour! Osoyoos festival are on now. Visit our Devour! page to book yours!